This week on Rhode Island Public television,
WSBE: (Comcast 294, Cox 808, Full Channel 109,
and Verizon 478)
IL TROVATORE
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| To hear The Anvil Chorus, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZN01_pAxro |
Great Performances at the Met
|
Saturday, June 15 -- 8:00pm; Sunday, June 16 -- 3:00am; Monday, June 17-- 12:00am
IL TROVATORE
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| Sondra Radvanovsky and Marcelo Alvarez |
David McVicar's stirring production of Verdi's intense drama premiered in the 2008-09 Met season. James Levine leads this revival, starring Sondra Radvanovsky, Dolora Zajick, Marcelo Alvarez and Dmitri Hvorostovsky -- in what might be the composer's most melodically rich score.
DURATION: 2 Hr. 45 MIN
DETAILS: [CC] [STEREO]
GENRE: PARENTS PICKS
How I fell in love with opera
Thrills, Chills, and Exhaustion in the City
Thrills, Chills, and Exhaustion in the City
by Carl DeSimone
There was one day in my teenage years that was different
from all other days, a very special day. It was the day I went with 15 high
school friends to New York City to the opera.
Going to the City always filled me with excitement and
wonder, and still does. I had been to New York a number of times before with my
uncle to Yankee Stadium and then on the subway downtown to the Empire State
Building. I had made a couple of visits to Auntie Lilly, my grandmother's
sister. She took me to Rockefeller Center and Radio City.
What was so different about this trip is that it was without
adults. No hand-holding. It was a huge undertaking; all the preparations and
planning were done by a group of 15- and 16-year-old boys. It became a fabulously
wonderful day that made memories for a lifetime.
I was a sophomore at Classical High School and I had fallen
in with the just the right crowd. All the other kids were a year ahead of me in
school and much worldlier than I was. They were mostly the bunch from the
chorus, East-Side kids who pulled me into the group to sing madrigals on
Saturday nights because they needed a bass. They were nonchalant about all they
knew and how accomplished they were musically. I looked up to them because they
were all some of the brightest kids in the school which I certainly did not
consider myself to be. Somehow I was able to get in step to become a permanent
member of the group. I didn't know how well I’d fit in, but I sure wanted to.
My dad couldn't understand why I was hanging around with so
many kids most of whom were Jewish. Weren't there some nice Italian boys I
could play ball with? Although he never forbade me to be with these friends, I
knew he didn't fully approve. As I grew older I gravitated toward kids who were
more in tune with music and the arts, kids who went to concerts and foreign
movies.
I don't know how our adventure got started, but it was
probably Gus, one of the gang, who decided that it would be cool for us to go
to the opera, not in Providence or Boston, but in New York, to the Metropolitan
Opera. He picked Turandot by Puccini because he said it was one of the best. He
found out a Saturday matinee performance in the spring. For me an outing was an
outing and it sounded great. I was anxious to go, brimming with excitement with
the prospect of being with my friends for whole day, going on a trip, and
seeing an opera, being grown up. Opera and classical music was always a part of
my life, so this adventure was right up my alley.
We began preparations months in advance. We reserved our
tickets, the best seats, because it wouldn't be worth sitting in cheap seats
after traveling all that way. Getting ready for our trip was the focus of our
social lives for many months. The excitement built from week to week and we
grew closer because of it. We belonged to a secret club and when we passed each
other in school we gave each other that knowing smile; we knew we had something
special in the offing and, of course, we were special because of it.
Gus had a recording of the opera and for about three months
we got together every Friday night at his house to listen to one scene at a
time. I typed the libretto on stencils so everyone would have a copy. This is
well before subtitles, and videos. It took me hours and hours. If you wanted to
know what was going on on stage, you had to learn the script practically by
heart. So we did. We also learned about
the Puccini's background and the events surrounding the first production the
opera. We also knew about the singers who would be performing and those on the
recording.
I got my own copy of
Turandot for Christmas, with Nilsson, Bjoerling and Tebaldi, so it wasn't just
Fridays, but almost every day that I listened to it. By the time we actually
went, I nearly wore out those records. They were filled with nicks and
scratches, by I didn't care. I knew every note! I loved every note and still
do! Turandot became my favorite opera,
Nilsson my favorite soprano, and Bjoerling my favorite tenor. Not much Rock and
Roll for me! And you couldn't ask me about sports. I couldn't have been less
interested. Even now when people ask me what my favorite team sport is, I
answer,” opera”, even if it's not a sport, it's as close as I get.
The day arrived and we took the early train to New York,
dressed to the nines, boys with ties and polished shoes, like on Easter Sunday.
We felt so mature embarking on this adventure. I can remember singing
practically the whole way, every song we could think of, from our chorus
repertoire, Broadway tunes, and popular music. And our itinerary in NY wasn't
just the opera. Our schedule was jam packed. On arrival in NY we took the bus
up 5th Avenue to the Guggenheim to see the Van Gogh exhibition, which we had
also prepared for. We had about two hours to walk down that spiral ramp to view
the paintings, and then we had lunch in the museum cafeteria. (They had strange
stuff like yogurt!) Then another bus ride down 5th Avenue to the Old Met.
It was a venerable old building, with lots of ornate,
elaborate gold decorations, better than any movie house I had been to. I was so
excited with anticipation that I could hardly breathe. My heart raced during
the whole performance. It was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. The cast that
day included the greatest legendary opera singers of the time and the staging
was fabulous. The humongous stage presented a dazzling representation of Peking
and the royal court, all in reds and gold. As the Met's performances are today,
every set, every costume, every sound was perfect: The best in the world. Just
awesome! It was worth all the effort!
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| To hear Franco Corelli sing Nessum Dorma, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg-59NoES2o |
Franco Corelli, a tall, handsome tenor from Italy, sang
Calaf. He had a beautiful, strong voice, and although he started a little
cautiously, he sang better and better until his climax in “Nessun dorma” during
the last act. Lucia Albanese, the darling of NY opera lovers for years, sang
her passionate, expressive Liu. The audience applauded so much when she was on
stage the opera was continually interrupted for long periods of time. To crown
the stellar cast was Birgit Nilsson as Turandot. She was unbelievable. Known
mostly for her Wagnerian roles, Nilsson was one of the few sopranos who could
sing this most demanding role.
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| Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_vc_txniDM to hear Birgit Nilsson as Turandot |
When she appeared for
the first time at the top of a large staircase halfway through the second act, it
felt like my heart stopped. She was wearing a red and gold cloak that cascaded
halfway down a huge staircase in the center of the stage. At first, to add to
the mystery of her character, she was facing away from the audience; then she
turned around. On her head she had a huge golden headpiece, at least a yard and
a half across, with multiple jeweled rays. It looked like metal and terribly
heavy, and when she sang she held her head absolutely still, only dropping her
jaw to sing. She moved with great majesty sometimes pointing her fingers with 6
inch nails. There are no adjectives to describe how wonderfully she sang, as
clear and strong as on the recording.
In the riddle scene in the middle of the opera there is a
climax in the music when all the soloists, the chorus, and the orchestra sing
and play at full blast. On the recording Nilsson's voice rises above and
through everything else. I thought it must have been enhanced. In performance
at that spot when the music built to ear deafening proportions, without
amplification, one voice rose from the stage like a laser beam, to cut through
all the other sounds. It was Nilsson's voice, powerful, clear and piercing, and
maybe a slight bit brassy. I felt chills running up and down my spine. That
note still echoes in my mind.
At the conclusion of the performance we sat for a long time
in stunned silence. For teenagers silence is the loudest expression. We had
absolutely loved it.
As we made our way back to Grand Central by way of the
Automat, we jabbered excitedly with each other recalling our favorite moments,
hoping to burn them into our memories. It had all been worth it. The day had
been greater and better, more wonderful and impressive than we thought
possible. When we caught our train back we sat in our seats completely
exhausted. We fell asleep savoring the memory of what was very special day.
To hear a recording of a live performance from 1961 of Turandot starring Brigit Nilsson and Franco Corelli, (1 hr. 53 min.) click here:
Carl DeSimone is a retired teacher, living and listening to opera in Providence, tutoring German and ESL.
How did you fall in love with opera? Let us know! drpegueros@gmail.com
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Opera Lovers of RI
Third anniversary!
June 25, 2010, I published my first blog entry. It has been great fun and a tremendous learning experience for me, truly a labor of love. I hope it has been fruitful for you as well. In celebration of this anniversary, three years without missing a single week, I am inviting you to join us for a "Dutch treat" lunch at Asian Palace.
(I wish I could offer to give a free banquet but I don't make any money from the blog and my day job can't subsidize it.)
Come and meet other local opera lovers. I bet we can get the restaurant to play some opera in the background!
Save the date:
Noon, SATURday, June 22, 2013.
Please send me an RSVP; if we get enough people,
we'll reserve the banquet room.
RSVP to me: drpegueros@gmail.com
Asian Palace is very reasonable and has a huge menu that includes Chinese, Thai, and Japanese selections, including a full sushi bar. Keep in mind that they only have the regular menu on weekends, not the lunch menu. The website includes directions: http://www.asianpalacedining.com/
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Joyce DiDonato
I'm not sure that things really change after all! Just as in high school, I wait until the LAST moment to submit my paper! After a crazy busy day, I'm so very excited to share the track listing for ReJOYCE with you all!!
While it simply wasn't possible to include ALL of your suggestions, I do think we were able to include the most requested ones, as well as adding previously unreleased gems. I definitely cannot express how you are exceeding my expectations with your numerous responses and enthusiasm!!
Here are your chosen Track Listings:
CD1
1. Ombra mai fu (Previously unreleased recording)
2. Crude Furie (Furore)
3. Addio, Roma (Lamenti)
4. Non saria la pena mia (Ercole)
5. Morirò, ma vendicata (Furore)
6. Io t'abbracio (Amor e gelosia, with Patrizia Ciofi)
7. Scherza Infida (Ariodante)
8. Vanne, sorella ingrata (Radamisto)
9. Madre diletta abbracciami (Drama Queens)
10. Col versar barbaro il sangue (Drama Queens)
11. Where Shall I Fly? (Furore)
12. Sposa son disprezzata (Drama Queens)
13. Addio, mio caro bene (Amor e gelosia, with Patrizia Ciofi)
14. Parto, Parto (Previously only an exclusive iTunes track for Diva/Divo)
15. Voi che sapete (Diva/Divo)
16. Aprite, presto aprite (Previously unreleased track for Diva/Divo)
CD2
1. Amour, viens rendre a mon âme (Previously unreleased track)
2. In quali eccessi, o numi ... Mi Tradi (DG's Don Giovanni)
3. Una Voce Poco Fa (Previously unreleased track for Colbran)
4. Giusto ciel, in tal periglio (Colbran)
5. Qui est homo (Stabat Mater, with Anna Netrebko)
6. Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio (Diva/Divo)
7. Tanti affetti ... Fra il padre (Colbran)
8. D'amour l'ardente flamme (Diva/Divo)
9. Nacqui all'affanno...non piu mesta (Diva/Divo)
10. Sein wir wieder gut! (Diva/Divo)
11. You've been so good to him ... Who will walk with me (Dead Man Walking, with Frederica von Stade)
12. You'll Never Walk Alone (R&H at the Movies)
13. Climb Ev'ry Mountain (R&H at the Movies)
14. He will gather us around, all around (Dead Man Walking)
15. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Kansas City Homecoming)
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OPERA ON THE INTERNET
WITH
DAVE D' AGUANNO
Puccini's ever-popular "La Boheme" can be heard
this coming Saturday (June 15) as NPR continues its series of broadcasts from
the 2012/2013 season at Lyric Opera of Chicago. The performance in question was
one that took place this past January.
Other operas this Saturday are ones that are surely not
heard as often as the Puccini work. Rossini, for example, gets his share of
attention, primarily for his comic operas ("Barber of Seville" --
"Cenerentola" -- etc.), but his (somewhat) serious opera "La
Donna del Lago" is not nearly as popular. That situation may indeed be
remedied if enough people tune in to the performance of this opera on BBC Radio
3, with superstars Joyce Di Donato and Juan Diego Florez in leading roles --
and with the possibility of a video of the performance circulating in the
coming months.
On the other hand, operas by Berlioz ("Damnation of
Faust" & "The Trojans") have recently been performed and
been given HD-transmissions by New York's Metropolitan Opera -- but not his
opera "Beatrice & Benedict" (based on Shakespeare's "Much
Ado About Nothing"). Well, the Belgian radio station Klara is broadcasting
a performance given in Vienna this past April, giving interested listeners a
chance to hear what many consider a neglected masterpiece.
British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams may be known by
certain classical music buffs, probably for his splendid symphonic output, but
his opera "Pilgrim's Progress" (first given in 1952) may not be so
well-known. French Radio, however, has it on the schedule this Saturday in a
broadcast of a concert performance that was given last November 24 at English
National Opera's Coliseum in London.
Moving into the 21st century, German Radio will be airing
the world premiere performance of the 2013 opera "Thomas" by Georg
Friedrich Haas, as given at the Schwetzingen Festival on May 24.
Enjoy! -- And a Happy Fathers' Day to you all!
DAVE
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2013 Summer encores of
Live in HD Broadcasts
Live in HD Broadcasts
2013-14 Live in HD
Season Preview
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Some interesting articles
Why Music Makes Our Brain Sing
Rolando Villazon's Verdi Tour
Mark Adamo: Confronting Tradition_Making Mary
Magdalene
Michael Fabiano: On Beethoven and Beyond
Franco Zeffirelli's Library Finds a Home
Modest Footprint for a Vast Future: Colin
Murdoch at the S.F. Conservatory
After Hugo Chávez, What's Next for El Sistema?
Review: John Adams Thinks Big in New Telling
of the Gospel
14 Ways Opera is a lot like Arrested
Development
The Ten Greatest Opera Divas of All Time
WQXR Blog_Paris Turns to Classical Music to
Chase Away Loiterers: Travelers May Choose from Lully and Scarlatti
San Francisco Opera: Take a seat in the
director’s chair with Kevin Newbury, Director of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
during our next Overture Workshop on Monday, June 17th! You’ll find out the
many different roles a director plays and get a chance to try out some
theatrical exercises yourself. For more information and tickets go to
"Why do students with learning
disabilities excel in opera?"
Review: Cecilia Bartoli is Fierce and
Mercurial in Bellini's Norma
Piotr Beczala: the advocate of operetta (in
Dutch--use Google translator)
"Dal labbro il canto estasiato vola"
from Falstaff - watch Rolando's new Deutsche Grammophon video here
A Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti in Verona (in
Italian -- use Google translator)
http://www.daringtodo.com/lang/it/2013/05/03/amo-pavarotti-a-verona-la-mostra-tributo-a-big-luciano/
ARENA DI VERONA, 100 ANNI DI LIRICA (100 years
of opera in Verona) (In Italian -- Use Google translator)
Concert and Event Calendar
2012-2013 Season
Friday, June 14, 2013 — 8:00pm
Saturday, June 15, 2013 — 8:00pm
Friday, June 21, 2013 — 8:00pm
Sunday, June 23, 2013 — 3:00pm
"Pirates of Penzance
— Featuring —
Samuel - Devon Morin, The Pirate King - Ryne Cherry, Fredric - Joshua Collier,
Ruth - Ana Maria Ugarte, Kate - Arielle Rogers, Edith - Kristen Charpentier,
Mabel - Julianne Gearhart, Major General Stanley - Andy Papas, The Sergeant - Jason Shealy
Stage Director and Choreographer - Nathaniel Merchants • Artistic Director - Rene de la Garza
Providence, R.I. –May 29, 2013 – Opera Providence has come a long way in the last five years, and their June major season production of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s comic opera,The Pirates of Penzance, promises to showcase that progress. Running June 14,15, and 21 at 8:00pm and June 23 at 3:00pm at the recently restored Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, Providence, the fully staged performances will feature a highly professional cast working under Nathaniel Merchant, stage director, and Rene de la Garza, artistic director.
“Five years ago, you wouldn't have imagined OP putting on something this big, this beautiful and this professionally sung with showmanship and stagecraft and heart,” says Robert DeRobbio, president of Opera Providence’s board. “For the most part this farce is a madcap ballet of Victorian characters, props and set pieces zipping on, around and off the stage, giving a relentless momentum to the playfully jabbing social satire. But there are also moments of tenderness, poignant romance and wry humor.”
The two-act opera centers on a love story between Frederic, celebrating the end of his pirate apprenticeship upon reaching the age of 21, and Mabel, the tender-hearted daughter of the pompous Major-General Stanley. Internationally acclaimed soprano Julianne Gearhart is the blushing Mabel, wooed by Boston-based tenor Joshua Collier as the dutiful young Frederic, who believes as a reformed citizen he must now bring the pirates to justice. As in all good farce, waves of complications ensue, including a twist in Frederic’s contract and circumstances that means he must remain with the pirates for another 63 years! Is his romance doomed?
The accomplished cast also features bass-baritone Ryne Cherry as the honorably roguish Pirate King; comic baritone Andy Papas as Major-General Stanley; mezzo-sopranos Arielle Rogers (Kate) and Kristen Charpentier (Edith) as Mabel’s flirtatious sisters; and Boston-based contralto Ana Maria Ugarte as the bawdy pirate maid Ruth.
Tickets are $35 and $60 per person.
The Columbus Theatre
270 Broadway
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 621-9660
Directions:
Tickets: $35 and $60 per person
For tickets please call the Opera Providence Office at 401-331-60
Information on Opera Providence is also available on the website:www.operaprovidence.org
Information on Opera Providence is also available on the website:www.operaprovidence.org
July and August 2013
Summer production of
"Elixir of Love"
Exact dates to be determined.
Exact dates to be determined.
For additional information on our exciting opera season,
to purchase tickets, or to contribute to the Annual Appeal, contact:
Opera Providence
585 Elmgrove Avenue
Providence RI 02906
401-331-6060
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The Met radio broadcast season is
over for now...
check this space the first week
of December.
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NO OPERA ON WGBH TV
THIS WEEK!
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